The Legend-News

I Gotta Code

Way back in the mists of time, when men were men and women were the objects of sexual harassment, there was Citizens Band radio, a.k.a. “CB”. And there were those shorthand expressions known as the “10-Code”.

There really isn't any “standard” 10-code, although the most common terms are

10-4

OK (acknowledgement)

10-7

Out of service

10-8

In service

10-9

Repeat

10-10

Negative

10-20

Location

10-33

Emergency

10-36

Time of day

10-100

Rest break

And even those codes may vary. There are “official” lists, but those lists are established for the use of particular organizations, usually police, and the codes may vary between organizations. If you’re interested in lists of 10-codes, check your favorite search engine for “10-code” or “ten-code”.

If you watched the 1999 March 28 episode of
The Simpsons
— “Maximum Homerdrive” — wherein Homer becomes a trucker, a “10-38” was broadcast and you saw a trucker consulting a page which listed a few 10-codes. Here's that list: